End is near for Army football seniors

WEST POINT — Josh Jackson and Army's seniors were the last group remaining at Thursday's morning practice.

Sal Interdonato

WEST POINT — Josh Jackson and Army's seniors were the last group remaining at Thursday's morning practice.

Lt. Col. Reyno Arredondo, the team's director of football operations, reminded the players after warm-ups Saturday to stay on the field for Senior Day.

Jackson didn't need the reminder. The reality of Jackson's career coming to a close is hitting him hard.

He'll be happy to see his parents, Leverne and Jacqueline, younger brother, Miles, and cousin, Rickey Dixon Jr., a specialist in the Army, for the on-field ceremonies. But the celebration also signals that Jackson has only two more games to strap on his helmet.

"Things start to get emotional when I start to think about all of the time and the years that you spent here," said Jackson, a three-year starting cornerback. "You think about just two more games in your career and possibly two more football games left in your life that you will be a part of and play in."

Army's 22 seniors, who play their final home game against Temple, have experienced some of the program's recent highs. Five — quarterback Trent Steelman, running back Malcolm Brown, guard Frank Allen, defensive end Zach Watts and cornerback Jackson — were starters on Army's 2010 Armed Forces Bowl championship team, the academy's first postseason win since 1985.

They snapped Army's 13-game service-academy losing streak with a 41-21 win over Air Force two weeks ago. And, they've left the field winners against Boston College, Northwestern and Vanderbilt.

"We've been there and done it all," Jackson said. "Two more games left to go and a chance to win some more important games, especially the last one on Dec. 8.

Jackson and the seniors wrap up their careers in Philadelphia against Navy in a battle for the academy's first Commander in Chief's trophy since 1996.

A struggling 2-8 season has one big goal left at the finish line. But, Jackson says Army needs to focus on Temple (3-6) first. Focus would avoid a dubious statistic entering the final game. No team has ever won the CIC trophy with less than four wins.

"It's important to go at each and every game like it's your last," Jackson said. "Honestly, nothing is promised tomorrow. Tomorrow isn't promised. You never know when your last game is going to be played. So we can't look forward to Navy and focus on that. We have to take care of business each and every week. "»We have to go into the (Temple) game like it's our last and at the end of the day, we are athletes. We want to win and that's what we are going to do."

Army coach Rich Ellerson said this senior class is as close as he's ever been around. And, they deserve to finish their careers winners.

"I'm just sick that they haven't had a chance to stack more W's on Saturdays," Ellerson said. "But here we are in the final weeks of the season and there's still so much on the table for them."